General Information
Grading : medium
Distance: 11.1 kilometers
Total climb: 424 meters
Time taken: 3 hours
Map: Corin Dam 8626-1N, 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO: 53.3 kilometers
Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 79072 60456
Destination map grid reference: 55H FA 76329 58623
End point: same as start
Route
Description
"Legoland" is the unofficial name given to the series of block-like rocky outcrops on the ridge east of Orroral Valley.
The walk began at the Honeysuckle Creek Observatory site at the end of Apollo Road. From there we made our way to the Orroral Ridge Road, taking us through bushland recovering from the bushfire 18 months ago.
The Orroral Ridge Road itself is in excellent condition and this made for easy walking although it was moderately steep in some places. It was nice to walk along Honeysuckle Creek for some of the trail.
Continuing past the turnoff to the Orroral Valley link track on the left we eventually reached the carpark on the top of the ridge at 55H FA 76822 58304. I continued along a walking track along the ridge to the peak at 55H FA 76329 58623, but getting a view was difficult because it meant climbing over or walking around huge boulders. I'm not a huge fan of rock climbing. Nevertheless I managed to find a view down into the Valley and across to Cotter Rocks.
Returning to the ridge-top carpark I followed another short trail to the nearby rock outcrop where we found a rocky vantage point giving a spectacular view down the valley. We were able to clearly discern the old tracking station, the homestead and the geodesic dome.
After having a spot of lunch and admiring the view we headed back to our starting point by the same route.
